Education Workforce Housing
Education Workforce Housing
As the housing affordability crisis deepens, teachers and public school district employees struggle to live in the communities where they work. They are forced to decide between making long daily commutes or leaving the education profession altogether. Both scenarios are harmful for teachers, schools, and students. Teacher turnover rates are often higher in more disadvantaged schools and school districts, making housing an issue of educational equity and racial justice.
One solution to this problem is building affordable housing for teachers and school employees. CC+S is pioneering work that looks at the potential for education workforce housing.
Publications
NEW: Housing California Educators: Insights from Nine Education Workforce Housing Developments (2025)
The rising cost of housing in California has made it increasingly difficult for teachers and other school staff to live near their places of work, exacerbating teacher shortages and staff retention challenges. In response, local educational agencies (LEAs) across the state have begun developing workforce housing to provide affordable living options for school employees. This report examines the experiences of nine LEAs that have successfully navigated the complex process of planning, financing, and constructing education workforce housing (EWH). Written by CC+S and cityLAB at UCLA.
Education Workforce Housing in California: Developing the 21st Century Campus (2022)
Report (PDF) | Executive Summary (PDF)
This report illustrates the potential for land owned by school districts to be designed and developed for teachers and other employees. Developed by CC+S, cityLAB at UCLA, and Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation in collaboration with the California School Boards Association (CSBA) and funded by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), this research inventories tens of thousands of potential sites, shows a range of housing design strategies, and lays out a roadmap for school districts interested in retaining teachers and staff in local communities. The report also provides recommendations for state policy reforms to encourage education workforce housing.
Education Workforce Housing in California: The Handbook (2022)
A companion piece to the report, this handbook provides a how-to guide for school boards, administrators, and community members to advocate for and advance the development of education workforce housing in California. Developed by cityLAB at UCLA with input from CC+S and the Terner Center for Housing Innovation.
To Live in the Community You Serve: School District Employee Housing in California (2018)
In this study, we review the school district employee housing landscape and present findings from a survey of employees in the Berkeley Unified School District to understand their housing situations, needs, and interests.
California School District Property Mapping Tool
Created by UC Berkeley’s Center for Cities + Schools, this mapping tool can be used to identify properties owned by California’s public TK-12 school districts. estimated measurements of property acreage and building square footage for California’s TK-12 public school campuses. To use, select a school district then select specific properties to see the acreage and square footage information.
Education Workforce Housing Workshop Series
CC+S is partnering with the California School Boards Association and cityLAB at UCLA on a workshop series to help local California public school districts develop a strategic roadmap for utilizing land to create affordable and inclusive housing options for their workforce. For more information on how to participate in this workshop series, please contact Sara Hinkley (hinkley@berkeley.edu) or visit the CSBA web page.
